Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.
Marianne Williamson "Return to Love"
I had a great day with myself today. I went for a run, got some reading done, and did some writing. Then I went to work where I found the gossip mill running full throttle: The main focus was a new guy who has difficulty respecting personal boundaries.
At the best of times, working in a restaurant gets me out my insular world of writing and schoolwork. It balances my introvert with my extrovert. Today, however, I had a choice to connect with people (join in the gossip) or to bow out. Bowing out would make me feel more connected with myself but disconnected from my co-workers. Being a social creature, I chose to join in the chatter and within a few minutes, I regretted it. It was jarring to the peaceful connection that I had nurtured with myself all day.
This pattern of choosing connection with others at the expense of my own connection was prevalent in my relationship with Ex-man. Countless times I chose to engage with him in an adversarial manner, over walking away and coming back to myself. I often chose a bad connection with another over a good connection with myself.
As girls, we are taught to stay connected. What we aren’t taught is that good connections with others will come when we are centered in ourselves. I see my young daughter struggle with this in her relationships. Recently, in an assignment for school, she wrote, “I stress about friends because I have grown different relationships with my friends and I feel if I lose them I will be alone.”
Marianne Williamson "Return to Love"
I had a great day with myself today. I went for a run, got some reading done, and did some writing. Then I went to work where I found the gossip mill running full throttle: The main focus was a new guy who has difficulty respecting personal boundaries.
At the best of times, working in a restaurant gets me out my insular world of writing and schoolwork. It balances my introvert with my extrovert. Today, however, I had a choice to connect with people (join in the gossip) or to bow out. Bowing out would make me feel more connected with myself but disconnected from my co-workers. Being a social creature, I chose to join in the chatter and within a few minutes, I regretted it. It was jarring to the peaceful connection that I had nurtured with myself all day.
This pattern of choosing connection with others at the expense of my own connection was prevalent in my relationship with Ex-man. Countless times I chose to engage with him in an adversarial manner, over walking away and coming back to myself. I often chose a bad connection with another over a good connection with myself.
As girls, we are taught to stay connected. What we aren’t taught is that good connections with others will come when we are centered in ourselves. I see my young daughter struggle with this in her relationships. Recently, in an assignment for school, she wrote, “I stress about friends because I have grown different relationships with my friends and I feel if I lose them I will be alone.”
Girls are conditioned to be social and, as a little girl one of the worst things that can be said is, “Who does she think she is?” This type of coercion is used to get those who are choosing to paint their lives outside the box back in line. What was never asked is, “Who does she know she is?” But when we know who we are, we shine.
Today, ponder the question, “Who do I know I am?” If it didn’t matter what other people thought of you, who would you be then?
Today, ponder the question, “Who do I know I am?” If it didn’t matter what other people thought of you, who would you be then?
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